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29 May 2015, 15:10
Updated on: 03 Jun 2015, 17:57
30 May 2015, 13:01
01 Jun 2015, 00:44
01 Jun 2015, 11:01
| FROM The Berkeley EWMBA Blog: Part-Time MBA Global Learning: Berkeley-Haas in South Africa |
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Mukesh Kataria graduated from one of the part-time MBA programs at Berkeley-Haas, the Evening & Weekend MBA Program, in 2015. One of his final courses was the Seminar in International Business, which combines classroom learning with global travel to introduce students to the culture, history, and business environment of various countries. Mukesh traveled to South Africa with classmates and Lecturer Mark Rittenberg and wrote bout his experience for the Berkeley MBA blog. The day finally arrives! I have been thinking a lot about my 1st ever trip to African continent – the diamond mines, Nelson Mandela, Robben Island, Cape town and lot more things. Yes, I was interested in visiting the companies on the tour roster but my mind kept on wandering to experiencing the unknown – people, culture, food, and above all so many questions about experiences of apartheid. I wanted to really talk to someone who has been through it all, but was not sure if it would be politically correct or acceptable to dig those wounds. After boarding the plane, it finally set in when the screen showed 15.5 hours to Dubai and another 10 hours to Joberg. I wanted to utilize this time in the most productive way I could – and hence I decided to spend it by watching as many movies as I could. After all, I have not really had much chance to watch movies or TV in the past 3 years! Pregame On our first day, we were introduced to the alternate economy in South Africa (SA). Open air malls where you can pretty much buy everything – from furniture to showpieces to clothes. These were ordinary South Africans selling their creations on the roadside — no PayPal, only cash. Our first official organized activity was a visit to Pilanesberg national park, home to virtually all of the animal species native to southern Africa, including elephant, lion, rhino, leopard, and more than 360 species of bird. On our drive, we were greeted by a family group of elephants crossing the road and a bull following them closely. The bull elephant didn’t wait long to show us that he was in charge. The waving ears and shaking head made the bull look majestic.  In the evening we headed to dinner at the home of Anton Harber, a professor of journalism at University of Witwatersrand and one of the founding journalists of the Weekly Mail (now the Mail & Guardian), an outspoken anti-apartheid newspaper. We were also joined by Justice Malala, a political analyst in Johannesburg, publisher, and Sunday Times correspondent. I was fortunate to share the dinner table as Anton, and we got a chance to talk about his experiences during the apartheid era as well as his thoughts on how SA is shaping up to face the new world. What touched me most was his modesty; here was a person who opposed one of the most oppressive governments and yet was nonchalant about his contributions. He shared several anecdotes and stories about his first-hand experiences with Nelson Mandela. Corporate Treks: Health and Transportation On our corporate treks we met with Richard Vallihu, CEO of Transnet Rail Engineering, who explained how railways are the arteries of SA and how Transnet Phelophepa Health Train brings health and hope to thousands of rural South Africans. It was surreal to meet someone who witnessed first-hand the end of the previous chapter in SA’s history and now is participating in writing the next. We then visited Transnet engineering plants where new engines are built following six-sigma practices and engines past their prime are retrofitted. Our next stop was Sandton, in downtown Joberg at Discovery Health, where CFO Brett Tromp took us through a business model that actually pays people to stay healthy via collecting and analyzing data to drive trends as well as individual rewards. We were taken aback by that level of big data analytics DH had in its DNA. Building Confidence in Kids Later that evening, we headed to a rooftop bar to celebrate a classmate’s birthday. The entire class turned up for a memorable night of amazing company, drinks, and, above all, a sharing of personal secrets in a moment that will forever stay locked in my memory. At around 1:30AM it felt like the right time to head back to the hotel and retire. We headed to ‘African School for excellence’ (ASE) in Tskane. This school was started by several very successful professionals who found their calling in fixing the school system in South Africa rather than making millions in consulting.  We got an opportunity to interact with students, who sang for us in their music class and shared their aspirations and dreams. It felt amazing to see kids speaking confidently about their plans to become doctors, engineers, pilots, music producers, or in many cases all of these options. We talked to them, sang with them, danced with them, jumped with them and shared moments, that make you think about the purpose of your own life. I came out deeply touched and with a determination to do what I can to help them. Growing a Chain of Chicken Restaurants After Tskane’s visit, our next stop was Nandos, A peri-peri chicken restaurant operating in 32 countries. Nandos restaurants use South African artists’ art to decorate the facility and has a formal program to discover and encourage artists by buying and selling their paintings. Co-founder Robbie Brozin gave us a personal tour and shared his additional passion for eradicating Malaria. At Nandos, their vision always has been “to have fun” and to make money, while changing the way the world thinks about chicken, putting fun before money, something that doesn’t get said too often in corporate America. Empowering Youth and Giving Voice to the Community At Harambee, a youth employment accelerator, we learned about the 8-week training program that prepares unemployed youth for and places them in entry- level positions. Harambee has found that students who hold a job through their first year in the workforce have an 85% chance of lifelong employment. We also met several graduates as well as current trainees, including Sthy, who inspired me with his persistence and focus on what is ahead. At Power FM, a talk radio station focused current events affecting South Africa’s black communities, we toured the studio and even got a chance to play radio host ourselves. It was a unique experience. Meeting One of Mandela’s Wardens In Cape Town, we had breakfast with Christo Brand, one of Mandela’s wardens while he was imprisoned at Robben island. He shared his story, his transformation from hating Mandela to forming the special bond. Our instructor, Mark Rittenberg, asked a very deep question “When did your relationship with Mandela change from being a prison guard to a friend” and Christo answered very eloquently. Next we headed to Robben island where we were taken to block B, where political prisoners were kept and we saw the cell where Nelson Mandela spent 18 years of his youth. We tried to visualize a day in his life in this small space with barely-human facilities. It was time to internalize the place and its impact on the world. This is where Mandela was shaped to become the statesman, the leader, the thinker, the president that he became. How did he not lose his sanity? How did he keep his hopes high?  The tour guide, himself a former prisoner at Robben island, shared a story that gave glimpses of a true leader in Mandela. When Mandela demanded a long-sleeve shirt and pants to gain protection from the elements, he was duly accorded the uniform after a bit of struggle. However, as soon as he came to know that he was the only one given such a uniform, he refused to accept it. That was Mandela, the leader – always looking out for his people. Stimulating a Silicon Valley-Like Culture in Cape Town We then headed to Western Cape Economic Development Partnership – a group meant to bring the entrepreneurs of SA together with those that can provide infrastructure and guidance. Their official role “We’re connectors, facilitators and translators, working to help people find a common language and a shared set of priorities specific to projects that can make a positive impact in people’s lives” explains it all. We covered various topics ranging from valuations of SA firms to differences of Cape town from Silicon Valley to opportunities in Cape Town area that will stimulate a Silicon Valley like culture and opportunities. Friends for Life and a Tearful Farewell At our final official dinner, my fellow EWMBA students and I raised our glasses in thanks and enjoyed the great company. The evening ended with everyone coming to the realization that we would probably not be together as a group like that in SA again. Several eyes teared up and several voices became hoarse. I was overwhelmed by the moment. I had made friends-for-life during the trip, getting to know several of my classmates for the first time and finding how nice, generous, intelligent, and smart they are. We were also touched by the humility and generosity of South Africa’s people. We boarded the plane with a promise to come again… to the beloved country!!! Students in the Berkeley Evening & Weekend MBA Program have access to two global learning opportunities: The Seminiar in International Business and the International Business Development Program. We invite you to learn more about IBD as well.  
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08 Jun 2015, 17:18
10 Jun 2015, 13:01
| FROM The Berkeley EWMBA Blog: What will I get out of an MBA? 7 things you may not have thought of |
 The decision to pursue an MBA frequently starts with the sense that there must be something...more, career-wise. More challenge. More meaning. More impact. And every year, the knowledge and skills gained in b-school lead people to find exactly these things in their careers. But at Berkeley-Haas, home to full-time, evening and weekend, and executive MBA programs, we believe there is even more to b-school. Here are 7 benefits you might not have expected—the icing on the cake: 1. "Me" Time While going to b-school is hardly ever (OK, maybe never) described as "relaxing," it is clearly time that you have set aside to focus on you—and what comes next in your career. Sometimes it's not cucumber water and quiet we need, it's higher quality noise—in the form of new ideas and information. 2. Exploration of the Path Not (Yet) Taken B-school admissions officers expect you to have a pretty clear idea of your aims and of your strengths and weaknesses, but they also know this: You haven't learned everything there is to know about yourself. A big part of the graduate business school experience is discovering unexpected abilities and passions. 3. I'm with the Band In b-school, you may find yourself chatting with founders about the life of a Silicon Valley entrepreneur, taking in a marketing VP's tales from the trenches, or hearing Al Gore's thoughts on the role of business leaders in our world's future. Enrolling in a top-ranked MBA program gives you access to top executives who have faced leadership challenges of all kinds and who share what they've learned along the way. 4. On the Ground, Around the Globe Semester break treks and built-in experiential learning opportunities bring you overseas to learn about the business climate and culture of nations from Chile to China. Sometimes part of a course and sometimes led by a classmate, these experiences are often named by students as being among their favorites. 5. Ommmmmmmm OK, not exactly like meditation, but b-school is a mind-opening and -altering opportunity to wrestle with substantive issues and to engage in the kind of deep thinking and thought-provoking discussion that lead to everything from a small shift in perspective to a Don Draper-style epiphany. 6. Not my Job You say you've never helped a firm expand into an emerging market or price a new product? Through class projects and hands-on consulting opportunities, in b-school you frequently tackle real-world challenges outside your wheelhouse as a way of practicing new management and leadership skills. 7. What Happens Outside the Classroom... ...actually comes back in. Plenty of opportunities for learning and growth happen outside of class, where you may take leadership roles in clubs, participate in case or startup competitions, lead treks, and more. You'll find these are a great way to see your learning come to life and enrich what you bring to class. At the end of your MBA studies you'll have a degree that opens doors, and new knowledge and skills to take you forward. But we think you'll find that not everything you get out of the experience was what you expected. Think of it as a way to have your cake (and icing) and eat it too. Want to know more about what an MBA program might be like? We invite you to compare our three programs.  Image courtesy of gineerobot under Creative Commons license 
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10 Jun 2015, 19:01
| FROM The Berkeley EWMBA Blog: The Lean Startup Model and the Berkeley MBA |
 Lamenting the lack of real customer data in traditional startup models, Lecturer Steve Blank teaches an eight-week class at Berkeley-Haas called The Lean Launchpad. Using the lean startup method, Blank guides students through the process of gathering real customer data to head off business plans being developed solely on the basis of untested hypotheses. "Startup investors don’t even look at business plans," Blank told Poets & Quants. "They’re not expecting a five-year forecast, they want to know if the product will sell, and how a company creates value for investors and customers." Blank told Poets & Quants that about a quarter to a third of teams in his class actually launch a startup, with a number of successful products having been developed in the Lean Launchpad course. One was Krave, a natural beef jerky venture launched in the course by Berkeley EMBA alum Jon Sebastiani and purchased by Hersheyfor more than $200 million earlier this year. You can read more about Steve Blank's Berkeley MBA entrepreneurship course in Fortune Magazine.  
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16 Jun 2015, 10:43
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